Briton Anita Reid snapped up a townhouse in Mussomeli after seeing it listed online
A British woman looking for a fresh start paid just over £32,000 for two annexed homes in the Sicilian town of Mussomeli last year.
Anita Reid, a self-employed single mother from London, bought one house for €1 and the attached property for €37,000, including notary, tax, and agency fees. Together they make up an entire palazzo in the old picturesque district of Mussomeli.
It’s a four-floor historical stone townhouse “full of character and history”, Reid told The i Paper. In London, a house of the same size would easily cost £1 million or more, she said.
Reid is now intent on doing up her new properties, while aiming to keep renovations under £10,000.
Buying online
The house, Reid said, was “two properties joined together over generations, so I have two deeds, and technically one half was sold to me for a euro to make the process simple, but it wasn’t part of the one-euro scheme”.
Her decision to buy in Sicily was well-considered, though the end process was something of a leap of faith.
“I wanted a fresh start and something that was completely mine,” she said. “I did a lot of research into different towns in Sicily. Mussomeli stood out because of its community spirit, central location, and the sheer charm of its historic homes. When I saw a video of the property online, I instantly knew it was the one.”
In fact, she bought the property online without ever visiting it.
“I first saw it in a video walk-through, and only laid eyes on it in person the day I signed at the notary. It was a leap of faith, but one that’s paid off,” she added.
The property, which is about 100 square metres, has three bedrooms, two reception rooms, a kitchen, tall ceilings and plenty of storage space.
So far, Reid has mostly focused on DIY fixes. She’s painted, plastered, tiled and sanded the house on her own, repurposing much of what was already there. She’s only contracted other people for plumbing or electrical work.
The house was liveable from the first day, so the work has been more about “creativity than necessity”. She also said she loves “up-cycling, giving new life to old furniture”.
The former owners left behind plenty of objects for her to work with.
Two properties in one
The part of the property she paid €1 for is around 40 square metres, with one downstairs room, a storage room, and an upstairs room with a bathroom. The larger property is 60 square metres, with five rooms and two bathrooms.
Reid owns a house in the UK, but sees the Sicilian property as something ultimately to pass on.
“I wanted something that felt like a legacy, a place to pour my energy into and one day pass down to my son,” she said.
Although Mussomeli has no shortage of builders, Reid said she likes to take her time over renovations. Over the past 18 months, the property has grown into a home piece by piece, and Reid enjoys that slower rhythm.
She eventually plans to retire to the town.
“That’s the dream. Mussomeli is where I see myself long-term. Because I work for myself, I could even consider moving sooner with the right visa,” she said.
The Sicilian lifestyle and friendly locals are also a major plus. The people are warm, generous and community-minded, she said, making it hard to feel isolated.
“There’s a slower pace that’s deeply nourishing. Mornings with coffee in the piazza, neighbours stopping to chat in the street, evenings with Aperol spritz as the sun sets over the rooftops.”
The village is also increasing vibrant thanks to the one-euro-homes scheme launched in 2017 by the local municipality in an effort to fight depopulation.
Over the past year, Reid has witnessed the opening of new restaurants and cafés, and has seen cultural events spring up.
Mussomeli is also located geographically in the centre of Sicily, so it’s a perfect base from which to explore – close to beaches, mountains and other nearby beautiful towns.
“It’s a life that blends simplicity with richness,” Reid said. “Each visit feels like stepping into a parallel life that I’ve built for myself.”
Reid now regularly travels back and forth between London and Sicily, often staying up to five weeks at a time in her new home.
